A COLLEGE principal has hit out at the unfairness of the school league tables.

Angela Williams, head of Huddersfield New College, has criticised the Department for Education (DfE) for the way it grades schools on their performance for the over-16s.

The results tables published by the DfE last week show that only 35% of students at New College gained three A-levels or more in 2012.

Staff at the Salendine Nook school claim that this is not a true reflection of their students’ ability, as many take A-level-equivalent vocational subjects, which are not taken into account.

The Government figures are also based on the total number of students, rather than the actual number of students sitting three traditional A-levels.

Mrs Williams said: “I was genuinely disappointed with the way in which we were represented in the Key Stage 5 League Table published last month.

“89% of our students left the college with three full A-levels or equivalent in 2012.

“Of those who studied traditional A-levels, 96% left with three A-levels, placing us in a similar position to Heckmondwike Grammar School and Greenhead College.

“In addition, 95% of our students who studied vocational A-levels left with three vocational A-levels, and 95% who studied a mixed traditional and vocational programme left with the equivalent of three A-levels.

“This new measure clearly favours those post-16 institutions who only offer A-levels, rather than those who offer a broad and inclusive Level 3 curriculum which allows students to follow both traditional and vocational pathways to university or employment.”

Mrs Williams’ comments follow a similar complaint by the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, which yesterday condemned the scrapping of vocational training courses in many schools, following the DfE’s decision to drop most of these subjects from its school performance tables.

Mrs Williams added: “The temptation is to play the league table game and only offer traditional A-levels, but this is not in the best interests of our students.

“We are very proud of our inclusive curriculum and the exceptional progress our students make because we can provide each of them with a bespoke curriculum which meets their needs.”

New College is in the top 10% of all schools and colleges nationally for A-level performance and 84% of the class of 2012 went on to university.